"Jacob!!!!" Sam's voice entered his thoughts. "It's Jolene…it's the baby…NOW!!!"
"Oh God…is Emily there? I'm a few miles out but I'll be there…. ohmyGod…" he couldn't believe it. She just had to go into labor with him on patrol….
"Emily's there and dude-don't panic. They have been preparing for this for months. Emily is really great at this…."
"Don't panic!!!! Who are you talking to, I was there when Sammy was born"
"Yeah…you're right. Hurry up!!!"
He ran faster than he had ever run to get to her. He didn't want her to be alone. He had heard the cries of a woman in labor before and he hated Jolene would have to experience that. He thought of how beautiful she was on the porch earlier. When he got lost in her like that, she just let him. He had never dreamed he would be this lucky and now, there was going to be a baby. He and Jolene had made a person. How amazing is that?
He could hear her cries as he approached the house; sometimes wolf hearing really wasn't all that great. He phased immediately, her name on his lips as he ran into the house.
She was just standing there, she and Emily had already gotten the room ready, like she didn't know what to do…her face calm now. He didn't know how to act, or what to do either. Emily had been a midwife for a couple years now and she had told them what to expect but standing here now, all he felt was fear.
"You can touch me" she spoke softly, a grin on her face. So of course he grabbed her up and kissed her, he was more gentle than usual. She was right in the middle of telling him what happened when shock filled her eyes. He knew she was in pain so he grabbed her hands and she grabbed back. He wasn't prepared for the strength she actually possessed as she squeezed his hands. He just smiled though; he had to keep her calm even though seeing her face like that was absolute torture. He just had to stand there and let her suffer and it was killing him.
He sat down behind her as she prepared to have their little one. He rubbed her back and whispered into her ear as she cried and trembled. Then, Emily said push and he heard the baby cry. As much as he'd thought of this moment, there was nothing that could actually prepare you for seeing your son for the first time. Son!!! Emily laid him on Jolene's chest and the sheer beauty of the moment was one he would never forget. He couldn't hold back the tears. He reached out his hand and the baby reached up and grabbed one of his fingers with his tiny hand. It was the single best moment of his life.
He woke up reaching for her. She wasn't beside him. Of course, he didn't have to look far to find her. She was sitting in the rocking chair holding their son. They were an absolute vision in the moonlight that streamed through the bay window. He just lay there and watched, not letting her know he was awake. She had her eyes closed as the baby fed, a faint smile on her generous mouth. He felt he would almost burst with sheer joy just at the sight. It had only been one week but the feelings were overwhelming him. Every time he looked at her the love he felt was so strong he had to look away and the pup, well that little guy was everything he'd dreamed of plus some. He had asked Sam if it was normal to feel so protective, he felt like phasing when anyone got close to the two of them. Sam told him he still felt like that and Sammy was two years old. He was just going to have to adjust. Great, he just hoped he didn't kill someone while he did that.
He watched as the baby released himself, obviously his mother's milk had done the trick.
"You eat just like your papa, little one." She sighed, obviously exhausted. The little guy really could eat.
"I thought my appetite was one of my strong points" he said, softly, unable to keep quiet.
She looked across the room and grinned at him. Her eyes always lit up when he spoke to her, every time. "What are you doing up?" she asked.
"You know I can't sleep without you," he said, attempting to act pitiful.
"Oh please, you could sleep in the bathtub" she smirked
"True…but I sleep better when you are right here" he patted the spot on the bed next to him; smiling the bright smile he knew she couldn't resist.
She walked over and joined him. She laid the pup between them. Jacob did have to be careful not to get him too hot, which was really hard. Even still his hands immediately went to rubbing the babies belly. He looked at Jolene, who was looking back with a smile on her face.
"I can't believe this is real…. it still feels like a dream" she said softly and leaned down, kissing his hand.
"Yeah, it does. Look at him…. he's so perfect. I could watch you with him forever you know" he looked at her with such love, she sighed.
"You do realize we have to name him eventually" he teased.
"Ok, but you can't just keep saying no because you think they are weird" she whispered. The pup had fallen back to sleep.
"I'm sorry if I don't want him to have a girl's name"
"Ok, ok…. I get it…. well you already said no to Jacob Jr."
"Yeah, well I want him to have a strong name." She frowned; she had already told him Jacob was a strong name. He just smiled at her. He liked his name just fine, but this baby was special.
They lay there in silence, minds wandering. He didn't know what he wanted to call this little guy. He looked over at Jo and smiled, she smiled back and reached across to touch his face. Her soft hand against his skin felt so nice, too nice. He exhaled slowly closing his eyes and then he took her hand from his face and placed it over his heart.
He heard her whisper "Jude" and she sounded like an angel.
"What does that one mean?" he asked with a smile. There were no less than a dozen baby books scattered across their room.
"The praised one" she spoke softly and he looked at her, at that smile and then down at their boy and knew there couldn't be a better name.